Refrigerated cabinet



May 16, 1933- A. E. ECKERT REFRIGERATED CABINET Filed Sept. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR dnljab E. Eckert.

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ATTORN EY.S

May 16, 1933. A. E- ECKERT 1,909,818

REFRI G'ERATED CAB INET Filed Sept. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F i y. E. INVENToR F1' y 5- Adpzph E Edrz.

SuM/1% MAC/C03 ATTORNEYS l May 16, 1933. A. E. ECKERT REFRIGERATED CABINET Filed Sept. 14, 1928 S-Sheets-Sheet 3 aga INVENTOR Adolph E'. Eckert WMA TWC ATTORN EYS Y NI'TED STATES- fl ADOLPH E; EGKERT, or CLEVELAND, omo,V ASsIG'NoB. r'ro ,Tran

Patented May 16, 1933 Il.

YBarmenmerrain cAJnvnTf Y f Application mea sepamberv 14, 192s. ssriallNQaoassa This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and particularly to cabinets for soda fountain use and the like. n

One of the objects of Vtheinvention is to provide a` cabinet of the above designated character in which more uniform storage temperatures are maintained in the'vmaterial stored therein than in previonsly'proposed cabinets. j

An additional object of the inventionis to increase the storage capacity ofcabinets of the above designated character. Y

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved formof brine tank orcabinets of the above designatedcharn acter in which the brine is of substantially .the 'same temperature gradient from `the bottom to the Vtopfof the brineV tank7 thereby avoiding the gradually increasing temperature gradient near Vthe upper surface of the brine tank, as in previously proposed constructions. Y g u v Y An additional object of theinvention is to provide a brine tank in which the brine sub stantially fills the tank. Y

Anadditional object ofthe invention is to provide 4means for thermosyphon circulation of brine inthe syrup pump rack.

A further object Yof the'invention"l is to provide animproved form of brine tank for use in cabinets ofthe above designated character. Y f '1 Figure l of the accompanying drawingsis aA top'plan view with parts brokenavvay to show the brine connection lto" the syrup rack.;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe cabinet shown in Fig. J1 f l Fig. 3 is an endv elevation of the cabinet shown in Fig. 2; I f I Fig. 4 is a transverseY sectional View of the cabinet` shown in Fig. 2,? taken substa` n-'V tially on lines 4 4 thereof; n A

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional vievv ofthe cabinet shown in Fig. 2jtaken substantially on line -jthereofyf y l ,1

Fig. 6 is` a corresponding transverse sectional vievv ofV tliecabinet shown in Fig. 2, taken online l-G'thereof; l Y Y Fig. 7 is a, top plan vieWofa modified form of refrigeratorY cabinet builtinaccord- @me With'my inventions f Fig. 8 is a front elevational viewfof the cabinet shown in Fig. with `tlielnine..ta-nk shovvnf partially inV sectionfon they line )8l-8 in Fig. e `1 f i h x Fig, 9is aitransverse,sectionallvievv of the cabinet shownin Fig. ;8,Vtaken "substantially onthe line '9 9 of Fig. 8;.'anol Fig. lOisatransverse sectional x portion/of the syrup rack of acabinet Vbuilt Yvv. ofl av Y tssni-fnnc'mfvma ooMPANg'oF cLEvELANnVoHIo, A 4VcoranoBaarlon1on c3102 u in accordance with the inventionandsliowing a modifiedformof cooling unitfor re.-V

lfrigerating the Vsyrup rack. n .Y n

- The ref p'geratingzcabinetV that Abeen se-` lected for thef purpose of :illustrating and describing the general principlesfof the invention is lined on all sidesbyheat Vinsulatingmaterial 1. suchl as layers of cork or other material that serve tominimize-the absorption of heat by' the4 enclosedffbrine tanks 2 and 3. The brine tanks aremounted in separately insulated compartments Land 5f or are Y otherwise suitably-insulated,V Aone from the `other,V in'` orderg thatV the A refrigerating. temperatures of thecornpartment controlled by brine tank `3 will be of a different temperature from they compartment` controlled bynbrine tank 2./ A storage comparta ment 6 is arranged atonefend of thecabinet and a Water-'cooling' unit 7 is 'arrangedlad sense, including' tanks. `"c'ontaining any lsuitable liquid of low freezingf'point." yThe `refrigerating. unitv maybefof anyk conventional form having suitable expansion coils 9 that are submerged 'inthe brinerofrftank 2 andconnected with a suitablecompressionfnnit (not shownlby-outlet and inlet 1' ip"esreV Spectively-markedgl0 and-1.1

A suitable. food-receiving chamber 12` forV usehfas fa lovv A temperature f. storage compart- Y jacent the storage compartment rl-hefcomg Y ment for brick ice-cream and the like eX- tends downwardly into tank 2 and is surrounded on four lateral sides by the brine tank 2. The chamber 12 also has an open ing cover 12a ofconventional.design pro-v vides access to the storage chamber 12.

c Therefrigerator unit-8, or evaporator as it is conventionally termed, is automatically controlled to maintain thebrine temperature in the tank 2 between suit-able low temperatureV limits, suitable for the storage of such material in the compartment 12 as is desired. f l

; The second or supplemental tank 3 is connected "to the main'brine tank 2 by means of a suitable communicating pipela that connects an intermediate portion of the tank 3 with a suitable vopening formed in tank 2 and a return brine'circulatingpip-e 15 that is provided with a suitable control'valve 16 for regulating the thermosyphon circulation of brine between tanks 2 and 3.

The communicating pipe 14 is oifset from the brine tanks 2 and 3, either laterally or below the associated brine tanks, in order that it will notr interfere with the free use of the food-receiving openings extending through the respective brine tanks and opening into the underlying chambers, 13 ofthe main compartment 4, and 17 of the supplemental compartment 5.

From the upper end of the brine tank 2 to the remote end ofthe brine tank 3, a suitable conduit 1'8 for the thermosyphon circulation of brine through the syrup pump rack 19 is provided. This brine-conducting conduit 18 may assist in the cooling of the storage compartment 6 if desired. A suitable valve 2O controls the rate Ofbrine circulation from the connection of the pipe 18 to the supplemental tank 3 back to the upper part of the main tank 2. This provides considerable diiference in elevation, with a sufcient temperaturedrop to insure proper circulation of brine through the pipe for cooling the syrup rack. The syrup rack 19 is of conventional design, having suitable pumps, such as 21, that are used to ldispense any desired Syrups and other syrup containers 22 that may or maynot be supplied with corresponding pumps.

Sweet and carbonated water iS supplied to the draught arms 23 and 24; through suitable pipe connections 25 and 26 that extend through a supplemental brine tank 27 that is cooled from an evaporator 28 to the desired temperature. The evaporator 28 may be operated from a suitable control valve connected to the main line that supplies the evaporator 8 with liquid refrigerant or by independent means as desired.

Operation of the above described cabinet is substantially as follows: The evaporator 8 is controlled to maintain the brine contained within the Vtank 2 within suitable predetermined Y temperature limits. Since the main body of the evaporator 8 is positioned above the opening into the food-'receiving' chamber 12 which is within the brine tank 2j and refrigerated thereby, the lentire compartment refrigerated fromthe brine tank 2 will be cooled .to substantially the same degree.l In former constructions, the liquid level in the evaporatorvwas below the top of the brine contained within this main tank and as a result, the upper stratum of brine in tank 2 was rmaterially warmer than the brine below the level of the refrigerant. Because of this warmer surface brine, the upper portion of the cabinet could not be effectively usedl for the storage ofbrick ice cream and the like, because of the warm layer of brine surrounding this portion of the cabinet. By elevating the evaporator to a point where-theI level of the liquid refrigerant within the evaporater is above the opening into the storage compartment cooled from tank 2, the entire storage compartment is cooled to the same degree, thus rendering the entire compartment available for use for the storage of the same material, such las brick ice cream. Furthermore, the elevation of tank 2 to substantially the level of the soda rack provides means for obtaining thermosyphon circulation of brine through the soda rack. It is obvious that thiscould not be accomplished with the prior form of brine tank.

The thermosyphon circulation of brine between the main tank 2 and the supplemental tank 3 is controlled substantially in accordance with the principles outlined in d ames T. Smiths lPatent No. 1,675,280. This provides a storage cabinet controlled from the supple-mental tank that has all of the cooling advantages, as regards uniform temperature and the like, that is provided in the patented construction, together with the Y greater depth of the main brine tank 2 that facilitates the circulaionof brine between the main tank and supplemental tank 3 whereby the temperature `of the compartments controlled from the brine tank 3 Vis materially more uniform than could otherwise be obtained.

The modified form of soda cabinet shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 employs a main tank 30 which has an evaporator unit of materially greater capacity than that Yshown in the cabinet illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6inclusive. The tank 30 extends the full width and depth of the cabinet and is provided with a supplemental offset portion 31 that has a food-receiving compartment 32 extending iria therethrough which has an enlarged lower portion 33. A suitable opening that is closed by cover 34 of conventional design provides access to the food-receiving compartment 32 lying within and beneath` the offset portion 31 of the tank. The location of the openinor into the food-receiving compartment well below the level of the refrigerant in the brine tank insures brine of uniformly7 cold temperature for the entire height of the food-receiving compartment.

A supplemental tank 35 similar to the tank 3 in the modification first described is connected to the offset portion 3l of the main tank 30 by means of a suitable circulation conduit 36, similar to the conduit 14 in the previously described unit. A return circulation conduit 37 which has a suitable control valve 38 connects the upper portion of the tank 35 with the elevated portion of the tank 30 in order to insure satisfactory thermosyphon circulation between tanks 35 and 30.

In this refrigerating cabinet, a conduit 39 is provided for circulating brine from the tank 35 through the syrup rack back to an elevated portion of the tank 30 and this conduit extends through a suitable water bath 40 as shown in Fig. l1 which is supplied with sweet water which may be frozen around the brine return pipe 39 to provide any desired degree of ice formation, the formation of the ice coating retarding the thermosyphon circulation through the pump rack and establishing a balance to maintain the temperature of the syrup cans substantially uniform. It is unnecessary, however, to cool the water bath 40 suiiiciently to obtain an iceV formation because the cooling of the water bath to the desired temperature above freezing will suitably refrigerate the syrup cans and the thermal capacity of the water contained in the water bath 38 satisfactorily accomplishes the cooling of the rack.

The operation of the cabinets shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive is substantially the same as the operation of the cabinets shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the difference being that the cabinets shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive must be somewhat longer than the cabinets shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive because of the arrangement of the main tank. The modified form of refrigerating the syrup rack shown in Figs. 7 to l0 may also be used with the cabinets shown in Figs. l to 6.

Although I have illustrated and described only two modifications of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim is: Y

l. A refrigerated cabinet comprising a main brine tank, a supplemental brine tank in heat interchanging relation therewith,

and a syrup rack and means for establishing ythermosyphonic circulation between said and back to the main tank for refrigerating the syrup rack.

2. A cabinet of the character described having a main brine tank and a supplemental brine tank alongside the main tank and of less height than the main tank, said main tank having a port-ion of substantially the same height as the supplemental tank, food storage compartments within said Atanks opening to the top thereof, an evaporator in the main tank having the level of liquid refrigerant therein above .the storage compartments, and means for establishing a thermosyphonic circulation between said tanks.

3. A cabinet of-the character described having a main brine tank and a supplemental brine tank alongside the main tank and of less height than the `main tank, food storage compartments within said supplemental tank opening to the top thereof, an evaporator in the main tank having the level of liquid refrigerant thereinabove the storage compartments, and thermosyphon circulation conduits connecting said tanks,'one of said conduits being connected tothe main tank above the level of said compartments.

a portion of the syrup refrigeration rack 4. A soda cabinet comprising a brine tank having portions of different heights,`a food storage 4compartment opening to the top of the `portion ofthe tank of lesser height, and an evaporator in the portion of the tank of greater height having-the level of liquid refrigerant therein well above the top of the storage compartment.

5. A soda cabinet comprising a malin brine tank, a supplemental brine tank of less height than the main tank and positioned alongside the same, a food storage compartment in the supplemental tank which opens at the top of the supplemental tank, an evaporator located in the main brine tank and having the level of liquid refrigerant therein maintained well above thetop of the supplemental brine tank, and thermosyphon circulation conduits connecting to the main and supplemental brine tanks.

6. A refrigreating cabinet comprising a main brine tank, a supplemental brine tank alongside the main tank and of less height than the main tank, a syrup rack mounted upon the top of the supplemental brine tank along the front thereof, a row of food storage compartments in the supplemental tank opening to the top thereof rearwardly of the syrup rack, an evaporator in the main tank having the level of liquid refrigerant therein above the tops of said food storage compartments, and means for establishing a th'erinosyphonic vcirculation between said tanks including a conduit extending through a'poition ofthe syrup rack.

7. A refrigerating cabinet comprising -a 15 main brine tank having portions of different heights,asupplemental brine tank alongside the main tank and of substantiallythesame height as the lovverportionof the main tank, n -a syrup rack mounted upon the top ofthe 10 supplemental tank and extending along the front thereof, food storage compartments in the supplemental tank-opening to the 4top thereofrearwardly of the syrup rack, a food rstorage compartment in the main tank open- {f5 ing `tothetop of thelovvei'portion thereof, anevaporator in the maintank having the level of liquid refrigerantftherein above the topsy of said food storage compartments, and therinosyhpon circulation conduits connect- 2b ing said tanks.

8. A refrigerating cabinet comprising a main .brine tank having-` portions of different heights, a supplemental brine tank alongsidethe main tank and of substantialiy the same height as the lower portion' of the main tank, a syrup-rack mounted upon the top of the supplemental tank and eX- tending along the front thereof, food storage compartments in the supplemental tank 3,0 opening vto the top thereof rearwardly of the syrup rack, a food storage compartment in the main'tank opening to the top ofthe lower portion thereof, an evaporator in the main tank havingthe level of liquid refrig- '2535 eranttherein above the tops of said food storage compartments, and therniosyphoii circulation conduits connecting said tanks, one extending through a portion of the syrup rack.

i '140 In'testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

`ADOLPH E.i ECKERT. 

